Pogačar says Vuelta crash fractured three vertebrae

Tadej Pogačar says a scan revealed he had broken three vertebrae in his crash at the Vuelta a España in late August, not just the neck vertebra initially identified. The Slovenian also suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone, injuries that ruled him out of the world championships and kept him from competing at the European Championships.

Speaking to The Athletic in his first interview since the crash, the 28-year-old said the additional spinal fractures were found on a CT scan in Slovenia two weeks before the interview. “At the time I was just happy to be alive and able to stand upright,” he said, in a translation of his remarks reported by Nieuws.nl.

Pogačar said he was glad in retrospect that he had not ridden the European Championships in early October. He said he no longer had symptoms, but was taking care not to fall on his bike or lift heavy objects because of his left arm and neck.

He has previously said he hopes to ride the Tour de France, the world championships and the Vuelta next season.